"The power of guns is not often compatible with truth and very much
depends on untruths or lies. So, with guns, there are usually lies and
destruction. When governments keep so many state secrets, this is a sign
of weakness, despite military strength. If a government is compelled to
keep secrets from its own people, this is a sign of weakness."
—Tenzin Gyatso, Fourteenth Dalai Lama

(Swans - April 23, 2007)
The once United States of America now suffers under the most secretive
executive administration in its history. This administration depends
strongly on military strength, perhaps secretly understanding their
weaknesses. It has led the country into two presently ongoing wars in
Afghanistan and Iraq. The reasons given for these wars are heavily
burdened with specious rationales, now lying exposed. Even the most rabid
of supporters are now questioning them.

Tenzin Gyatso, fourteenth Dalai Lama, is of my generation in terms of
years, although far, far removed from whatever concerns most Americans
have. After more than fifty years in exile, he holds firmly to truth as
the path that will free Tibet from the Han Chinese of PRChina who invaded
in 1949-50.

His views on history and most everything are conditioned by his Buddhism.
He was intensely educated and drilled in Buddhism, maturing with an
equivalent of a doctoral degree in his religion. At age 16, he was thrown
into the temporal world as administrative leader of a Tibet under
invasion.

Throughout his life, from childhood forward, he has meditated many hours
each day. The perspectives gained allow him to view people and events on
many levels, common and uncommon.

Two cardinal facets of Buddhism are wisdom and compassion. Tenzin Gyatso
holds tenaciously to non-violent perspectives, firmly believing that
violence solves nothing. Equally firmly, he is unbowed in holding
compassion for those who have so brutally decimated Tibet.

Understanding the history of Tibet and its neighboring regions opens
perspectives rarely available to Americans. For the last several
centuries, China was not controlled by Chinese but rather by Manchus. The
Manchus (remember Manchuria?) swarmed down from the north and overwhelmed
China installing their emperors who held sway for nearly 300 years until
Sun Yat Sen led a revolt in 1911. The Chinese then fought each other --
warlords, nationalists, communists -- until 1949 when Mao emerged
victorious. Almost immediately, Mao launched armies to the north and
west, south and southwest. He installed PRChinese provinces in most
areas. Mongolia was set up as an autonomous enclave. Tibet was enslaved
most viciously.

A strong manifestation of PRChinese world power is the weak-backed denial
of nearly all nations, UN included, related to Tibet. America, Great
Britain, Soviet Russia, India, et al., bought the PRChinese lies and made
them their own. Shame is sacrificed to greed as now all bow and scape,
kowtow, to the PRChinese economic juggernaut.

Can you think of any other world figure who stands for truth more
strongly than Tenzin Gyatso?

In the years since the PRChinese invasion of Tibet, a people once so
insular has burst out spectacularly. Tibet's Buddhism now circles the
globe in adherents, temples, and monasteries abound, works are translated
and widely available. In 1989, the Nobel Peace Prize went to Tenzin Gyatso.

He looks out to the uncommon side of realities and sees a future within
which once again truth may prevail. We who appear buried by rampant
untruth may also look to a brighter future.

· · · · · ·

If you find our work valuable, please consider helping us financially.

Do you wish to share your opinion? We invite your comments. E-mail the Editor. Please include your full name, address and phone number (the city, state/country where you reside is paramount information). When/if we publish your opinion we will only include your name, city, state, and country.